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"Tao po!" -- the way we knock on doors in the Philippines

Knock knock.

"Tao po!"

Only then will most doors open in the Philippines. It's almost second nature for Filipinos to shout "tao po!" when knocking on a gate or a building's front door. In fact, almost no one thinks about it unless asked by a visiting foreigner why we do such a thing. This custom, like many others, has roots in folk beliefs stretching from before the Spanish colonization in the 1500s.

The phrase "tao po!" functions as a sort of password to declare that indeed, the person knocking at the gate is human. In Filipino folklore, entities such as the dreaded aswang can shapeshift into human form, thus allowing them to walk around under daylight. This has been nicely illustrated in "Trese" and other modern works that have aswangs and other beings successfully interfacing with Filipinos in every day transactions. Even a trained eye may have difficulty differentiating the aswang from a human, owing to the sometimes appealing forms that they take.

However there are some distinct 'tells' about aswangs. My mother used to say that there are some human-like entities who must leave a church before the Consecration in the Roman Catholic Mass (in many cases, church doors were left open in the Philippines at least prior to the pandemic). Apparently their nature made them unable to really sit through the whole liturgy. More commonly though, aswangs cannot actually declare themselves as human, and thus cannot actually say "tao po!" when they wish to enter a house.

Practicalities of Saying Passwords

In a more practical sense, saying "tao po" is a declaration of friendly intent. Although yes, thieves and miscreants have been known to put on amiable facades and befriend inhabitants before entering a home, it is not usual for a break-in to commence with someone saying "tao po" or some similar phrase. Simply saying it is a polite way of announcing your presence and that you do not mean any harm,

In places with lots of ambient noise like in the middle of the big city, it is easy to confuse a knock with other sounds from the outdoors such as falling objects. Sometimes people learn to tune out such distractions, but will still pay attention for someone shouting "tao po!". If you don't want to be left standing out on the street, knocking futilely, you'd better learn to say "tao po!"

Invitations to the Vampire and Aswangs

This custom is also related to folklore from other countries concerning entities that can only enter homes 'by invitation'. This seems to be a cross cultural thing: vampires in European literature, rakshasa in Hindu mythology, and even the 'black eyed children' of urban legends. The trick with handling these entities is to never inadvertently invite them in. This can be as simple as learning to keep doors closed, installing sacred emblems or sigils on entryways, strewing salt and herbs as repellents, or using passcodes as in the phrase "tao po!"

It is generally understood that nothing good can come from accidentally inviting the uncanny into your dwelling. Apart from the risk of serious bodily harm and mortality, there is also the possibility of accidentally transferring ownership of your home to your unwanted guest.

Never Answer the Call of the Mimic

But does this apply to people that you do know, or who live in that house anyway? Still, there is cause to be very careful even with one's housemates. Another thing that seems to happen in Philippine folklore is having spirits mimic the voices of loved ones or other humans in an attempt to lure the unsuspecting into a trap. Many an old person will warn you that if you do not see who is calling you, it is best not to answer. Otherwise, you may find yourself talking to a spirit. In almost all cases, these spirits will not declare themselves as human, but will simply continue their impersonation.

I didn't personally pay much heed to this until a creepy incident in my childhood home when I was in my 20s. My siblings and I were relaxing in our living room one afternoon, with the family dog at our feet. Our home had 3 doors opening to the street: one in the living room where we were, one through the garage leading to the kitchen, and one leading to a side room. Suddenly all three of us heard what sounded like the kitchen door opening, followed by our mother's voice calling to us. Even the dog got up and began barking.

Thinking nothing of it, we just called "oh hi Mom", expecting we would soon see her in the living room. Five minutes, then ten passed by...and still no sign of our mother or anyone else in the house! When we did venture into the kitchen, there was no sign of a break in or anything having entered. The door was locked.

Our parents did actually arrive home hours later, in time for dinner. We mentioned this incident to them, and our mother simply shook her head. "Don't answer next time if you don't see me!" she warned us.

Be careful who you speak to. That person better declare what he or she is supposed to be first.

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these supernatural siblings are on the case 

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https://x.com/SecretScrapV2/status/1819754016605409296/

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breathe if you agree

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breathe if you agree

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Bruh... why the hell haven't I posted her yet here aaaaaaaa *cries*

Anw.. this is my CSM OC: Peowa, "Peow" for short XD

PS: This was a last-day-before-New-Years art :3

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Peowa

Doodles of my CSM OC XD

She's an amalgamation of mainly Power, Meowy, & 002

--- followed by "Blood Olive", Garfield, and a Tower of Fantasy OC (who is inspired by Radiodust, a bit)

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b&w Trese fanarts

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"Uy may kinakasal na tikbalang"

There's a saying that when a tikbalang (basically a horse man) gets married, it rains while the sun is still out.

I actually headcanon alex to be aroace/sapphic-ace, but they were kinda cute in the comics so why not lol

also vers without rain:

This pose is very much traced, so you can rage on me all about and I won't care because I'm guilty lol. I mean at least it's good practice

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Dang all the literally "little/munting" Trese fanarts are cute as heck, so here's my contribution to spread the munting Trese supremacy before I sleep 😩👌✨ when you're so small they treated you like nuno lmao

English version

P.S: I don't know if "involved" is the right word... I think "included" would do??

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CSM S2-CHP 126 (Spoilers)

From this...

To this...

Bruhhh....

WWWHHHHYYYYYYYYYYYYYY ?!?!?????

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So it wasn't Death ;-;

... Anyway

Fuji really went cooking tho 😎

Anyone watched the film "The Menu" yet?

Coz I agree with this tweet

"The Menu" was literally my first thought upon reading these panels

PS: Also, ig these panels from 102 & 105 makes sense now...

102

105

It kinda makes sense... if, you know, she DID kill that person from the orphanage. (Deserved tbh) 123 (recent chapter)

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I should post more Trese stuff but hngggnhhh... kinda difficult when the fandom is quiet <*sobs*>

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If you go backwards and read the chapter 102, what Asa fears the most is to fall, because of her mother death and the other awful experiences, so this Falling Devil is definitely the worst nightmare for Asa

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ADDITIONAL STUFF

Pick your free fall style :D

If these hints don't spell DEATH DEVIL then I dunno what else this devil could be anymore XD

Previously, on Chapter 121 ...

CHAPTER 122

< MEANWHILE ... >

Wheeeeeeee~~ :>

Yoru realizing she CAN'T WIN THIS FIGHT

D E V I L R E V E A L ! ! !

IF THIS AIN'T DEATH THEN I DUNNO ANYMORE ;-;

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If these hints don't spell DEATH DEVIL then I dunno what else this devil could be anymore XD

Previously, on Chapter 121 ...

CHAPTER 122

< MEANWHILE ... >

Wheeeeeeee~~ :>

Yoru realizing she CAN'T WIN THIS FIGHT

D E V I L R E V E A L ! ! !

IF THIS AIN'T DEATH THEN I DUNNO ANYMORE ;-;